Headlines

Western Conference Notebook (Dec. 8)

by
Jay Levin
/ Nashville Predators

Entering this week, 100 of the NHL’s first 396 games this season went into overtime, a pace for 310 overtime games over the full season, with every team in the NHL picking up at least one overtime point. By comparison, the last season the league saw 272 overtime games with 281 overtime games in both 2006-07 and 2005-06 … If the overtime pace continues, it would represent an increase in 38 points awarded in the standings this season … There were 11 overtime games last week, with six being decided in the OT session and five in a shootout. Of the overtime decisions, road teams went 5-1, while home teams countered with a 4-1 mark in the shootout decisions … Entering this week only three teams in the NHL have scored at least 90 goals on the season, all residing in the Western Conference, led by San Jose at 102, Detroit at 95, and Chicago at 90.

Central DivisionCentral Division teams have combined to post a 30-28-9 record on the road this season. Detroit is tied for the NHL lead with 10 road wins this season, while Nashville also ranks in the top-10 in road wins with 7 … Detroit and Nashville rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the NHL in face-off percentage this season …Detroit (No. 1), St. Louis (No. 3), and Chicago (No. 7) all rank among the NHL leaders in power-play percentage … Detroit (No. 3), Columbus (No. 6), and Nashville (No. 10) are among the league leaders in fewest shots allowed per game … Central Division teams will play two games against Eastern Conference opponents this week: Ottawa at Chicago on Wednesday and NY Islanders at Columbus on Saturday … There are three intra-divisional games on the schedule this week: Nashville at St. Louis on Monday, Nashville at Columbus on Thursday, and Columbus at Chicago on Sunday.

Northwest DivisionJust six points separates first place from last place in the Northwest Division, the smallest margin of any division in the NHL this season … Entering this week’s play, all five teams in the division have a record at or above .500 … The Northwest Division has four games this week against Eastern Conference opponents: Calgary at Montreal on Tuesday, Florida at Edmonton on Thursday, Florida at Calgary on Friday, and Florida at Vancouver on Sunday … Northwest Division teams have combined to go 21-7-3 against Eastern Conference teams, but just 30-30-1 against Western Conference teams from the Central and Pacific Divisions … There is one intra-divisional game on the schedule this week: Vancouver at Edmonton on Saturday.

Pacific DivisionSan Jose remains the only team in the NHL with out a regulation loss at home this season (14-0-2) … Entering this week, San Jose and Anaheim are the only two teams in the division with a record above .500 … Los Angeles and San Jose rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the NHL in fewest shots allowed per game … San Jose’s 36 first period goals scored are the highest scoring single period in the NHL this season … Pacific Division teams do not have any games scheduled against Eastern Conference opponents this week … There are two intra-divisional games on the schedule for this week: Phoenix at Dallas on Wednesday and Anaheim at San Jose on Thursday.